ISM Index

May	Apr	Mar	Feb	Jan	Dec	Nov	Oct	Sep	Aug	Jul	Jun	May
49.6	48.6	48.6	48.3	50.7	47.7	50.8	50.9	52	52.9	53.8	56	55

 

Summary

The ISM report is a national survey of more than 400 manufacturing companies in 20 different industries all over the U.S. The ISM report has been around since 1931 and is watched by virtually everyone who has an interest in the health of the U.S. economy. The survey includes new orders, production, employment, inventories, delivery times, prices, export orders, and import orders. The ISM Report uses these economic indicators to calculate the ISM index. The ISM index is based on a weighted average of new orders (30%), production (25%), employment (20%), deliveries (15%), and inventories (10%).

 

Diffusion indexes are produced for each of these categories. A reading over 50% indicates expansion relative to the prior month, and below 50% indicates contraction. Response data is either up or down and involves no numbers so conclusions to the ISM index should bear this is mind.

ISM Index (Institute for Supply Management) formerly National Association of Purchasing Managers is released 10:00 eastern standard time on the first business day of the month. The raw data can be found here